44 DOWNS ON LAND BIRDS OF NOVA SCOTIA. 



Great-horned Owl — (Bubo Virginia?ivs). — I have now in 

 my collection tAvo of these birds, which I have had for several 

 years. The female is a very fierce bird, and has a certificate of bad 

 character nailed on her cage. She murdered her husband, and ate 

 him, and from her dignified deportment has been named by visitors 

 " The Lord Chancellor." She is black with murder, treason, 

 sacrilege, and crime, and was presented to me by Mr. J. M. Jones. 



Snowy Owl — (S. nyctea). — This bird is common here in win- 

 ter, and breeds in Newfoundland. It appears that in some winters 

 these bii'ds traverse the North American continent in flocks. Last 

 winter they made their appearance in great numbers in different 

 parts of Canada. 



Barred Owl — (Syrnium nebulosum). — This bird is a resident, 

 never migrating from the colony. It breeds in the woods in all 

 parts. It feeds on hares and rufifed and spruce grouse. The eye 

 of this species is round and bluish-black in colour, while all the 

 other owls have yellow eyes. This is the bird that disturbs the 

 midnight slumber of the moose hunter and lumberer, coming near 

 the camp fire and peering into the glare, which gives it a demoniacal 

 appearance. Distending its throat and pushing its head forward, it 

 gives vent to an unearthly sound, which to the superstitious is all 

 but overcoming. While moose hunting some years ago, a colored 

 man of kindred taste, by name Cornelius Toliver, one evening 

 at the camp fire while listening to the hooting of this owl, related 

 a superstitious tale regarding the appearance of his brother's wife 

 after death, a cii'cumstance of which he seemed greatly in dread. 



Long-eared Owl — (*S. otus). — Very rare in the colony, but is 

 flushed occasionally when sportsmen are woodcock shooting. 



Short-eared Owl — (S. brachyotos). — Occurs here but rarely. 

 I have a specimen which was taken alive on board the R. M. S. 

 Canada, ofl" Cork, Ireland, about two years ago. 



Tengmalmi's Owl — (Noctua Tengmalmi). — Not common here, 

 biit abundant in Newfoundland. I stuffed two of these pretty little 

 birds for a passenger in the "Osprey," who brought them to me 

 alive, having captured them on board that ship off" Cape Kay. 



Acadian Owl. — This bii'd is known to the Indians and settlers 

 as the "saw-wect," from its emitting a cry somewhat like that 

 word. Capt. Bland, R. E., and Mr. George Piers had a living 



